Package container



May 10, 1932. B. GEORG ET AL PACKAGE CONTAINER Filed Aug. 16, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet w INVENTORfi TT RNEY May 10, 1932. EQ ET AL 1,858,198

PACKAGE CONTAINER Filed Aug. 16, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ihLuLW fl, MAL/(b INVE NTORS.

- of which will be Patented May 10, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BERNHAR'D GOERG, OF MOUNT VERNON, \VILL IA M a. ,ZUI-ILKE, or oNKERs, new YORK,

AND WILLIAM E. KUGEMAN, JR, or PARIS, FRANCE, AssIGNoRsBY MESNE AssIeN MENTS,

TO NATIONAL AUTOMATIC CONTAINER' CORPORATION, or BALTIMORE,

MARYLAND, A CORPORATION OF MARYLAND PACKAGE CONTAINER Application filed August 16, 1928:. Serial 1N0. 299,936.

Our invention relates to new and useful im provements in package containers, and more particularly to a container or case for a package of cigarettes.

An object of our invention is to provide a container having means to automatically open a cigarette package upon insertion of the package into the container. p

Another object is to provide means to feed cigarettes from the container as and when the container is opened.

The invention consists of the improved construction and combination of parts, to be fully described hereinafter, and the novelty particularly pointed out and distinctly claime y In the accompanying drawings forming a partof this specification, we have fullyand clearly illustrated a preferred embodiment T of our invention, in which drawings Figure 1 is a vertical, central, sectional view on the line 1-1 of Fig. 4., showing-a package within the container;

Fig. 2 is a side view showing the top cover "7 member in ra1sed position with the contained cigarettes and the ejecting mechanism in dotted lines;

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective showing the container-having the end cover member open to receive a cigarette package, and 1 Fig. 4 is a top plan view with the top cover member removed.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, 1 designates, generally, a container- -for easing which is preferably substantially rectangular, having vertical. sidewalls 2,3,

a vertical end wall l, a horizontal hingedbottom wall member 5,'and an open top 6.and a vertical open end 7. The vertical side edges of the walls 2, 3 adjacent the open end 7 are recessed, as at 8, 9, respectively, to provide on the walls2, 3, respectively, oppositely di'sposed top lugs 10, 11. which project upwardly above the plane of the top edge of side walls 2, 3, and oppositely disposed depending bottom lugs 12, 13. The bottom member has a vertical surrounding flange 14in the planes of the side walls 2, 3 and 4. Midway of the open side 7 the'top edge 15 of flange or member 14 has an upwardly projectin portion 16" forming a sleeve member. The lugs 10, 11 and 12. 13 are oflsetfinwardly from the plane of walls 2, 3, respectively, substantially the: thickness of the walls. Through and extending between the lugs 12, 13 which are in alinementwith' the sleevemember 16, is a bearing pin: or shaft 19 on which are journalled spaced sleeve members 20, 21 carried by'the lower edge of an end cover member 22 which is adapted to close theopen end 7 The cover member 22' has lateral flanges 23. 24 which overlie and laterally abut the top lugs 10,11 and the upper ends of the bottom lugs 12, 13 which serve to guide the flanges 23, 24 into alinement with the side walls 2; 3, respectively, and to frictionally maintain the cover member 22 in closed position. Secured at oppositely disposed points inrthe top lugs 10. 11 are the ends of, a shaft 25, on which is journalled a top cover. member 26 which is adaptedto close the open top 6. The member 26 has a top wall 27 from which depend side flanges 28, 29, and an end flange 30, which flanges aline with'the side walls 2. 3 and the end wall 4, respectively, when the cover member 26 is in closed position; Within the casing 1 and spaced from the inside face of the wall 3 are substantially horizontal guide members 31, 32 positionedrespectively adjacent the too edge and the bottom edge ofthe sidewall '3. The guide member 31 is secured at one end to the end wall 4, and at its free other end is secured to a bracket 33 fixed to the inside face ofthe wall 3. The guide member 32 is likewise secured at one end tothe endjwall 4,-

and at its .free otherend'is secured to a bracket'34 fixed to theinside face of the wall 3.? Fixed to and extending downward and to ward the open end? between the guide 31 and wall 3 from substantially the mid-point of the cover side flange 29, is a lever-member or arm 35. 'Pivoted: on apin 36 fixed to and projecting from the guide member 32 toward the wall 3; at a point substantially. directly beneath the free endof lever arm 35', is a lever member 37 having a cross-arm 38 fixed to its free end; The-lever arm35 and the crossarm38 are connected by a link 39 which pivoted at its ends by pins 40, l1, respectively, to the lever-arm 35 and to the cross-arm 38.

Fixed to the free end of the cross-arm is a plate member 42 which is normally substantially horizontal and has its free end adjacent the endwa'll 4 curved upwardly, as at 43. f

Extending diagonally across the interior of the casing 1 and parallel to the bottom wall 5 slightly above the horizontalplanebf thehinge shaft 19, 1s a knife member 44 having its opposite ends secured respectively to the wall 3 adjacent the open end 7 and to the wall 2 substantially in the vertical center line of the wall 2. The member 4.4 sharpened at its forward edge 45 to provide a cutting or knife edge. Beneath the member 44 is a curved guide member 46 having its upper edge adjacent theknife edge 45. Within the cover member 26 is a knife member 47 which is secured to the lowerfree edges of'the flanges 28, 29 and extends dia onally acrossthe casing 1 directly above and similarlyto the knife member 44. The forward edge of member 47 is sharpened, as at 48, to provide a cutting or knife edge. Within the cover member 26 between the knife member 47 and the end flange 30, is a partition 49 which extends substantially parallel with the cover top wall 27 and inclines downward, as at 49; to the mem- 51, of the well known paper and foil type usually containing twenty cigarettes, designated 52, is inserted in the open end 7 with the cigarettes in vertical position so that the top of the package will be uppermost. The package is guided by the-insideface of the side wall 2 and by the guide members 31, 32. As the package is pushed into the container 1, the knife edges 50 and 48 will slit the pack age horizontally along three sides at its top just above the cigarettes. The top portion 53 of the package which is cutto' form a flap insertion of the package 7 51' into the container 1 is continued, between the passes, as the top wall 27 and the )artition-49, as is clearly shown in Fig. I. imultaneously with the cutting of the package top, the bottom 54 of the package is also slit open by the knife edge 45 just below the bottom ends of the cigarettes 52, and also along three sides of the package 51. As the'package is continued to be pushed into the container 1,-the bottom portion 54 will be bent or turned downward and back by the depending curved guide 'Upon' member 46, as is clear from Fig. 1; complete insertion of the packageinto the containenthe cover member 22 may be, and

is swung closed, the side flanges 23, 24.1aterally and frictionally engaging the lugs 10, 12 and 11, 13, respectively, which serve to hold the cover member 22 closed. If a cigarette is now desired, the cover member 26 is raised, which will carry with itthe top portion 53 of the package 51, which hinges at its unsevered side, as shown in Fig. 2. As the cover member 26 1s swung back on its hin e 25, the

lever 35 acts through the link 39 to liftthe lever member 37, turning it clockwise of Fig. 2 on the pin 36. and carrying with it the plate member 42. Since the bottom portion 54 of the package which'would be above the plate member is removed, the member 42 will, on movemeutgengage the bottom ends of certain of the cigarettes 52 in the package 51, as is shown in Fig. 2, and will lift or eject such ofthe cigarettes partially from the container lflVhen the cover member 26 isclosed, it the cigarettes which have been raised by the plate member 42 do not drop back byf'orce of gravity, then the top wall 27 of the cover member 26 will on closing engage them and push them back into the container. Y Vhen the cigarette package 51 has been emptied, the cover member 22 is swung open and the package removed from the container 1 through its open end 7, which renders the container'ready to receive a new package.

The bottom cover member 5 may be swung open onshaft 19 to permit access to the lifting lever 42 and knife member 44 for clean ing or repair. p

It will be evident that our container may be used in appropriate sizes for other types of packages. It will also be evident that various changes may be made in the construe ion and operation of our container without departing from the'scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

hat we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is "I. In a device of the character described, a container having an open top and an open end, a cover member 'cooperable with said container and operable to close the open top thereof, cutting means normally positioned within said container adjacent said open end and extending across the same below the plane of the top edge of said end opening whereby said cutting means will act upon insertion of a package through said open end to cut the package top free along its end and sides, and means carried by said cover member operable to engage the freed package top whereby to open said package top as said cover member is opened. 7

2. In a device of the character described, a container having an open end and an open top, a cover member adapted to close said open top, and knife means carried by said member in spaced substantially parallel rclation thereto and positioned in said con-" tamer when said member is closed, and-op erable upon insertion of a package into said container through said open end to'cut the package top from the package at one end and along the sides thereof such that said means will lie beneath the freed portion of the package top whereby opening of said member will open the freed portion of the package top.

In a device of the character described, a container having an open end and an open top, a cover member hinged to said container and adapted to close said open top, package opening means within and adjacent the top and the bottom of said containerwhereby a package inserted into said container through said'open end will be opened at its top and bottom ends, and ejecting means within said container positioned to move into the opened bottom end of the package, means operatively connecting said ejecting means to said cover member whereby said ejecting means will project certain of the contents of the package through the opened package top and from said container when the top cover member is opened.

4:. In a device of the character described, a container having an open top and an open end, a cover member having depending side flanges and being hinged to said container and adapted. to close said open top, and knife means extending between and secured to said flanges whereby when said cover member is closed. said knife means is operable to cut open the top of a package inserted into the container through said open end, said knife means lying beneath the cut open package top whereby opening of said cover member will open said package top.

5. In a device of the character described, a container having an open top and an open end, a cover member adapted to close said open top. said container having knife means adjacent its top and bottom and operable to open the top and the bottom of a cigarette package upon insertion of the package into said container through said open end. lifting means positioned. for movement into the open bottom end of the package. and means connecting said top cover member to said lifting means whereby opening of said top cover member will actuate said lifting means to project cigarettes from the package and said container.

6. In a device of the character described, a container having an open end and an open top, a cover member for said open top. guide means within said container. knife means in said top cover member extending diagonally across the same, knife means in said container extending diagonally across the same beneath said first knife means. said first and said second knife means acting to slit the top and bottom of a cigarette package along three sides thereof to form top and bottom package flaps upon insertion of the packagev into said container through said end opening,

said guide means being operable .to open the bottom flap, said first-named knife means lying beneath the top flap of the package,

whereby opening of said cover member will open the top flap, and means movable into the opened bottom end of the package to eject cigarettes from the package upon opening of said top cover member.

7. A device adapted to hold a package of cigarettes comprising a container of substantially the same shape as the package to be held, having one end and a portion of the top adjacent the opposite end thereof :open, a

movable cover adapted to close the opening in the top of said container, and ablade eX-. tending the width of said container arranged operativelybelow the top of said container and presenting its cutting edge toward the said .cover parallel to the top thereof and presenting its cutting edge toward the open end of the container when said cover is in closed position, the cutting edge ofisaidblade being spaced sufliciently. belowxthe top of said'cover so that, when said cover is in closed position, said blade will engage-and slit the top of the package along its end and sides just above the cigarettes as the package is pushed into the container.- 7;. .5

9. A device adapted to hold a package of cigarettes comprising a container ofsubstantially the same shape as the package to be held, having an opening at one end'to admit the package and an opening in the top to permit removal of the cigarettes, a movable cover adapted to close the opening in the top of thecontainer, and a blade secured to thecover with its cutting edge-toward the open end of the eontainer'and extending the width thereof to slice the package across its entire width when inserted in the container.-

10. A device adaptedto :hold a package of cigarettes comprising a container of substantially the sameshape as the package to be held, having an opening at one en'd to admit the package and an opening inthe top to permit removal of theacigarettes, a hinged cover having depending end and side flanges and.

adapted to close the open'ingfin the top of the container, anda blade wider thanthe package of cigarettes positioned between said side flanges'and spaced slightly below thetop ofthe cover with its cutting edge toward the open end of the container to slice a package of part of; the top off the package when 'inserted in the container and retain the re-; sult-ing loose flap in the space between the blade and cover. j 11. A device adapted to hold a package of cigarettes comprising a container of substantially the same shape as the package to he held, having an opening at one end to admit the package and an opening in the top to permit removal of the cigarettes, a hinged cover having depending end and side flanges and adapted to close the opening in the 'top' of the'container, and a knife blade extending diagonally between and secured to said side flanges and presenting its cutting edge toward the open end of the container in posi'- tion to slit the top of the package'along itsend and sides upon relative movement of the M package and blade. I I Y '0 -12. A device adapted to hold a package of cigarettes comprising a container of substantially the same shape as the package to be" held, having an opening at one end to admit A the package and an opening'in the top to peril mit removal of the cigarettes, a hinged cover having depending end and slide flanges and adapted to close the opening in the top of" the container, a knife blade extending diagonally between and secured to said side flanges and presenting its cutting edge toward the open end of the container in position to slit the top of the package along its end and sides upon relative movement of the package and blade, and a second; knife blade secured to one side flange adjacent the open end of the container and substantially opposite the pointat which the first-mentioned knife blade is securedto the other sideflange. V

13. In a device of the character described, a container having an opening at one end to admit a package of cigarettes and anopening in the top to permit removal of the cigarettes, and means secured to the container and parallel to and spaced slightly belowthe top of the container to cut the package top free along its end and both sides as it is inserted into the container to permit removal of cigarettes through said opening in the top of the container. I 14. In a device of the character described; a container having an opening at one end to admit a package of cigarettes and-an opening in'the top to permit removal of the cigarettes, and means secured to the container and parallel to and spaced slightly below the top of the container to cut the package top free along its end and both sides as it is inserted into the container to permit removal of the cigarettes through said opening in the top of the container, said meansbeing arranged to hold the freed package top clear of said opening in the top-0t the container.

15. A device adapted to hold a package of cigarettes comprising a container of substantially the same shape as the package to be held, having one end and a portion OI thetop adjacent the opposite end thereof open, and a. blade extending the Width of said container arranged operatively. below the top of said 5 container and; presenting its cutting edge toward the open end of the'container whereby the top of the package is sliced along its end and both sides upon relative movement of the package and blade. In testimony whereof we have hereunto signed our names.

BERNHARD GOERG. WVILLIAM R. ZUI-ILKE. 1 IVILLIAM E. KUGEMAN, JR. :0; 

